SSIS

Lauren Spector- ESL Specialist

I earned my Bachelor of Arts at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. My major was German, my concentration was Adolescence Education, and my minors were Spanish, Professional Communication and Information Design. I then continued my studies at Nazareth College and earned my Masters of Science in Education with a concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

I have studied in Berlin, Germany and Valencia, Spain, and now I enjoy living in China. I joined SSIS in 2008, and I look forward to another year as an Elementary ESL Specialist.

Contact me at laurenspector@ssis-suzhou.net

Catherine Whiter - ESL Specialist

I received a B.A. in German Literature from Reed College, and then completed an M.A. in European Languages and Literature from the University of Hawai’i where I began my teaching career. For the past twenty years I have taught Romance languages and ESL to students from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages. Before coming to China, I was head of the Middle School world languages department at Mary Institute St Louis Country Day School for eight years. This is my second year at SSIS. I currently teach ESL in 4th and 5th grade.

Contact me at catherinewhiter@ssis-suzhou.net

Wilma Kersten - ESL Specialist

Australian born and educated, I have a Bachelor of Education in Applied Linguistics, a Graduate Diploma in TESOL and a Master of Arts in TESOL.
As well as having fourteen plus years of classroom teaching, I have extensive ESL experience having worked in and supported communities in the multicultural City of Wollongong Australia, the indigenous families of Darwin Australia, my work as an Advisory teacher in local Government schools throughout Hong Kong, teaching ESL students in the Elementary and Middle school at the Australian International School Singapore, and conducting courses at University level to Korean teachers on the Communicative approach to teaching English.
My passion is teaching ESL and in my spare time I love to travel and explore exotic places. I am very excited to be part of the Elementary school at SSIS. This year I am a Grade 2 ESL specialist.

Contact me at wilmakersten@ssis-suzhou.net

Warren Massey - ESL Specialist

I am an Australian national who hails from the state of Queensland. I gained my teaching degree from the Queensland University of Technology; I also have a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and TESOL certification from Griffith University. I have previously worked as a teacher within the public education system in Australia. I have also worked as an elementary school teacher in the remote Torres Strait Islands near Papua New Guinea. For the past four years I have taught both ESL and Social Studies at the Cebu International School in the Philippines. I am happily married with a young daughter who will begin schooling at SSIS in 2011. Outside of teaching I enjoy playing and listening to music and keeping fit by participating in a wide variety of sports. I am particularly looking forward to making many new acquaintances and also getting involved in the school sports program at SSIS during the new school year.

Contact me at warrenmassey@ssis-suzhou.net

Kimiko Fujii - ESL Specialist

I studied English Literature and Language both in Japan and in USA to obtain BA and a teaching certificate. My first teaching experience was in Japan teaching ESL at a junior high school. After several years of teaching in Japan I went to the University of Leeds, UK to take MA in Linguistics and ELT (English Language Teaching). I am also a trained interpreter between English and Japanese. I have been teaching ESL at SSIS for total 7 years in two separate times. First five years I taught ESL in various grades at old SSIS. I came back to teach in 2007 and have been teaching ESL in the Elementary Dept. since then. Currently I am attached to Grade 2 for ESL support.

Contact me at kimikofujii@ssis-suzhou.net

Paulo Cohen-Myers - ESL Specialist

I am an American from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I studied at the University of Rhode Island, where I received both my Bachelor of Science in Education and my teaching certification. Before coming to Suzhou, I taught English in the United States, Kenya, Korea, and Dalian, China. This is my fifth year at SSIS. Although I have had the pleasure of working in every grade in the Elementary School, I am currently attached to Grade One as an ESL specialist. In addition to teaching ESL, I teach cooking as part of the school’s CCA program.

Contact me at paulocohen-myers@ssis-suzhou.net

Sybil Pretious - ESL Specialist

I was born in Zimbabwe but lived in South Africa for many years. I have studied in Zimbabwe, South Africa and America. My qualifications include a BA Degree, diplomas in Early Years, Elementary and Learning Support in addition to a course in Structure of Intellect involving assessment, training and follow-up therapy. During my career I have held a variety of positions in education – principal, teacher, remedial therapist and as a facilitator for workshops and training. I have worked in the following countries : Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, England and China. I have had many years experience working in Learning Support with young children and particularly enjoy this aspect of education. I have been at SSIS for 4 years, the first year teaching Kindergarten and for the subsequent years in Learning Support and now ESL.

Contact me at: sybilpretious@ssis-suzhou.net

Chuck Pollard - ESL Specialist

I am from Wisconsin in the North Central United States. I received my bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, and then obtained a Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. In addition, I have over 1000 hours of study in Mandarin Chinese from Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan.
Before coming to Suzhou and SSIS, I taught high school in Wisconsin, worked in the travel industry as a tour guide and manager, and I taught middle and high school English and World History in Tainan, Taiwan. From 2005 to 2010, I taught Humanities and English in grades 6 thru 10 at SSIS in Suzhou. My family and I have just moved back to SSIS and Suzhou after spending a year in Wisconsin. We are happy to be part of the SSIS community again.

Contact me at: charlespollard@ssis-suzhou.net